Judges 9:4

Translations

Modern

So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.

Traditional

And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal–berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

Literal

And they gave to him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, and Abimelech hired with them worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.

Latin

Dederuntque illi septuaginta pondo argenti de fano Baalberit. Qui conduxit sibi ex eo viros inopes et vagos, secutique sunt eum.

Original

Hebrew

English

So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.

Notes

Judges 9:4

True leaders earn loyalty and appeal to the noble in society, not to reckless troublemakers like Abimelech's hired followers.

Judges 9:3–5

Abimelech asked for money from the local temple of Baal-berith, a worship center for a mixed Canaanite-Israelite religious group.

Judges 9:1–57

Abimelech's reign marked a shift from the relative peace of the early judges (Judges 3:7–8:35) to the decline of the later years (10:1–16:31).

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon Preaching to a Tough Crowd Shechem

Events

Usurpation by Abimelechc. 1218 BC

Measurements

seventy shekels of silver: About 1.76 lb (797.8 g)

Related verses

Judges 8:33
And as soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned and prostituted themselves with the Baals, and they set up Baal-berith as their god.
Acts 17:5
The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
Judges 11:3
So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where worthless men gathered around him and traveled with him.
2 Chronicles 13:7
Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young, inexperienced, and unable to resist them.
Proverbs 12:11
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
Job 30:8
A senseless and nameless brood, they were driven off the land.
Judges 9:46–49
On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
1 Samuel 22:2
And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

People

Abimelech: Son of Gideon, self-proclaimed king of Shechem Baal-berith: Canaanite god of fertility and weather

Glossary

Abimelech Arumah Baal-Berith El-berith House of God Judges, Book of Ophrah (Place) Raca Shechem (Place) Warfare

Topics

Ambition: Abimelech Baal-Berith: A God of the Shechemites Conspiracy: Abimelech Against Gideon's Sons Idolatry: Idols Mentioned in Scripture: Baal-Berith Judge: Abimelech Rulers: Wicked: Abimelech, Killing his Seventy Brothers

Judges 9:4

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Related verses

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